1. Reduced Forms of Speech

2. In spoken English, Americans often shorten (reduce) certain words to make the sentences flow better. This also allows us to speak faster. You may think that reduced speech is poor English, but all Americans use it. Even if you feel uncomfortable using reduced forms, you should be aware of them to improve your listening skills!

3. Three very commonly reduced phrases: Want to = Wanna Going To = Gonna Have to = Hafta NOTE: The reduced forms are not used in written English!

4. I wanna go shopping this weekend. I’m gonna do better on my next exam. I promise! Do you hafta talk so loudly?

5. Commonly Reduced Words to/tuː/  /t ə / the/ð ʌ /  /ð ə / him, them  / ə m / a, of, have  / ə / in, on, an, and  / ə n / as, is  / ə z / or, are  /ɜ ː /

6. Examples The following sentences will sound the same when “him” and “them” are reduced. Did you give it to him? Did you give it to them? The context usually makes it clear whether the reduced word is “him” or “them”.

7. Examples I’d like to buy 5 apples and 3 oranges. Can I have them in a bag, please?

8. More reductions Should have (should’ve)  Shoulda Would have (would’ve)  Woulda Could have (could’ve)  Coulda You should have washed your hands before eating. I would’ve if I could’ve, but there wasn’t any soap.

9. More reductions Shouldn’t have  Shouldn’t’ve or Shouldna Wouldn’t have  Wouldn’t’ve or Wouldna Couldn’t have  Couldn’t’ve or Couldna What a great gift! You shouldn’t have spent so much money on me!

10. More reductions for  fer (have) got to  gotta has to  hasta used to  usta supposed to  supposta ought to  oughta What do you  Whaddaya Whaddaya say we go out for dinner tonight?

11. Listening Exercise Listen as I read a paragraph. Write down what you hear, making a special effort to listen for reduced speech.

12. I was supposed to study with a group of friends last night. But most of them decided to see a movie, instead. I shouldn’t have gone to the movie, but what are you going to do when all of your friends want to have some fun? So I went to the movie, and then I did my studying afterwards. I was really tired for my 8 o’clock class the next morning. But the teacher didn’t seem to notice. I have to catch a nap at lunchtime.

13. Exercise Now it’s your turn! Write 2 or 3 sentences about anything that you’d like. Then look at the sentences, and underline words that you can reduce. Practice saying the sentences with the reduced forms.